2017 Giro d’Italia: Hat-trick for Gaviria

Fernando Gaviria continued his fantastic Giro d’Italia debut on Thursday afternoon, when he roared first over the finish line in Reggio Emilia, after a tremendous job of Maximiliano Richeze, who provided a perfect lead-out despite a flat tire in the last 15 kilometers which forced him to chase hard the frantic peloton who was heading to the finish with 55 km/h.

Quick-Step Floors’ Gaviria – first rider in six years to score three stage victories at his maiden Grand Tour – came out of his teammate’s wheel with 150 meters to go and powered to the line with remarkable ease, beating Jakub Mareczko (Wilier-Triestina) and Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe). The stage 12 dominant win helped the Colombian extend his already comfortable advantage to 80 points in the maglia ciclamino classification, which he leads since last week.

“I was a bit worried when Max punctured, because the finish was nearing and the bunch was going really fast. Fortunately, he came back and I was relieved, because Max is very important for me. I want to say a big thanks to him and to the entire team, they were wonderful today and I couldn’t have asked for more”, said Fernando after making history in Reggio Emilia, which returned to the Corsa Rosa after 16 years.

Sardinia, Sicily and now mainland Italy – the 22-year-old Colombian has left an indelible mark on the 100th Giro d’Italia, a race which he wants to complete, despite a brutal third week – with Mortirolo and Stelvio on the menu – looming on the horizon.

“I would have never imagined such a run on my Grand Tour debut. I was hoping to get a stage win, but to have three so far is beyond any expectations. It’s been a tough race so far, but I feel good and that’s important. I already said it and will repeat it, I want to go all the way to Milan, not only to win the maglia ciclamino, but also to repay Bob as much as I can for his help in these two weeks”, concluded Gaviria after Quick-Step Floors’ 28th victory of the season.

Bob Jungels – seventh in the general classification – concluded the race’s longest day (229 kilometers) in the peloton and will start stage 13, which will give the sprinters one last opportunity to fight for glory, in the white jersey.

STATISTICS

This is the 25th Giro d’Italia stage victory for Colombian riders, equalling the total for Dutchmen set by Tom Dumoulin when he won Tuesday’s Sagrantino time trial stage.

Before Fernando Gaviria, two other Colombians have won three stages at the Giro but he’s the first one to make the triple in a single edition. The other two are Lucho Herrera (Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Monte Generoso in 1989, Terminillo in 1992) and Nairo Quintana (Val Martello and Cima Grappa in 2014, Blockhaus in 2017).

It’s the second time that Colombian riders have combined to win four stages in a single Giro after Nairo Quintana (twice), Rigoberto Uran and Julian Arredondo imposed themselves on the 2014 edition. That year, their first win was on stage 12. This year, stage 12 marks the fourth Colombian victory.